tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post8627005454080669267..comments2024-03-27T20:04:53.585-06:00Comments on Illinois Transportation Issues: BikesTom Bamontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257129333713108323noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-50070510829704504832007-04-25T09:27:00.000-06:002007-04-25T09:27:00.000-06:00Parts of Chicago are bike friendly and bike to tra...Parts of Chicago are bike friendly and bike to transit friendly, but the CBD is a huge exception. The bike station is in the middle of nowhere and dangerous to get to by bike. The loop has no bike lanes but tons of overly wide streets that foster terrible driver discipline. If the city is serious about reaching 9% bike usage by 2015, then it needs to get serious about helping regular people get around the loop area safely on bikes -- including to Union Station. Right now riding a bike means having to weave in and out of the L pillars on Wells and Lake, etc., which is dangerous and discouraging. My rule of thumb is that, if my middle aged relatives feel unsafe bicycling, then we're not trying hard enough to get it right.<BR/><BR/>More broadly, I look at places like Copenhagen, which has invested heavily in protected (raised) bike lanes that connect really well to their subway and commuter rail systems. Why not add raised bike lanes on streets leading to and from L stations in the city? If the biking was safe, we would attract millions more people who would bike to the train instead of waiting for the lumbering delayed bus. Think of how much money we would save investing in simple protected bike lanes (and parking) versus more and more buses. In less dense areas, this would help eliminate the last mile problem and the constant clamoring for more car parking spaces for Metra stops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840511756286055487.post-1029842175801065142007-04-25T08:58:00.000-06:002007-04-25T08:58:00.000-06:00Bike parking is very underutilized in Chicago. Our...Bike parking is very underutilized in Chicago. Our Mayor has taken strides with the bike garage at Millennium Park and with special event parking downtown. But few institutions have embraced it on a permanent basis. Wrigley field is one, with bike parking offering a very sane way to reach the game on time. Plus, its very affordable. Why would anyone who lives in the city drive to a Cubs game?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com